The Tale of the Nation That Banished the Saint - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: World Three Years Later

I have a small territory near the capital city.

It’s land that I begged the king and queen to entrust to me so I could gain experience in managing territories. I obtained it for the purpose of putting into practice and verifying the agricultural techniques I had gathered so far.

Additionally, I’ve created a knight order that I can move freely.

Since it’s a small territory, the mobilization limit is twenty knights, but they’ve all become seasoned fighters through repeated monster exterminations.

The unit consists of cavalry.

—The reason? Because I like it.

I like the offense and mobility-focused cavalry, with zero defense.

Plus, I like horses, and I like female knights. So, I formed a cavalry unit.

The progress of agricultural-related endeavors is going smoothly so far.

As long as there is the protection of the Saint, even simply sowing seeds haphazardly results in a bountiful harvest. No special efforts are needed; just that is enough for a plentiful yield.

Fertilizers are unnecessary.

Since there are no damage from pests or beasts, pesticides are also unnecessary.

Everyone appreciates the protection of the Saint.

For the people of Leeragd, the absence of the Saint’s protection is a matter of life and death.

Knowledge and experience in agriculture have already been lost.

However, in neighboring countries, agriculture is carried out without the protection of the Saint.

Even in this country, there was a time when the era without the protection of the Saint existed.

If you search the books of this country, you can find accumulations of ancient agricultural techniques.

Farmers in neighboring countries also have wisdom and ingenuity.

We gather them, select useful ones, and utilize them.

The application of the gathered technology and knowledge is carried out by my subordinates, who instruct the farmers in the territory.

The results are excellent.

After the loss of the Saint’s protection, the periodic emergence of monsters has been dealt with by the Mercenary Guild, which has established a domestic monster extermination organization.

Utilizing the mobility of the cavalry unit I created, we patrol the areas where manpower is lacking.

When monsters are defeated, experience points are obtained, and the soldiers and mercenaries’ levels rise.

My knight order and I take the lead in exterminating monsters and go around gaining favor with various lords.

By increasing my relationships with friendly lords, I also offer advice on useful agricultural techniques.

At the same time, I actively spread tales of my bravery using the Information Guild.

Three years have passed since the expulsion of the Saint.

The system to survive without the protection of the Saint is steadily progressing.

However, there are nobles who completely refuse support from me.

Dalforne and Zopondot are among them.

Dalforne is an excellent politician.

He probably thinks he doesn’t need my help.

He’ll manage his own territory somehow.

It should be fine to leave him alone.

The problem lies with Zopondot, who has been reported to be preparing for rebellion against the kingdom.

Around two years after the expulsion of the Saint, he began frequently demanding compensation from the king.

According to Zopondot’s argument: The true Saint was Roselia.

By exiling her as a fake, immeasurable losses were incurred.

The king should compensate him!!

—Well, I can understand why he’d say that, but it’s rather convenient for him to forget that he was complicit in labeling Roselia as a fake Saint and participating in her expulsion.

As for Zopondot’s territory, it had been in a state of famine due to heavy taxes imposed on the subjects even before the Saint’s expulsion.

Furthermore, with the loss of protection, the situation became hopeless.

Facing further financial difficulties due to worsening fiscal conditions, Zopondot became even more reckless than before.

Tax revenues decreased, debts soared, and Zopondot, who was in dire financial straits, beheaded several representatives of multiple trading companies within his territory and defaulted on his debts.

As a result, the trading companies that had been responsible for distribution within the territory fell into dysfunction, causing a disruption in the flow of goods and money.

Zopondot’s territory, where frequent monster incidents are barely managed, the subjects suffer from heavy taxes, and the economic paralysis caused by the dysfunction of trading companies has worsened to a point where it’s beyond repair.

Zopondot has become desperate, and he’s trying to start a war against the royal family.

He seems like the type who, when faced with a high probability of losing in a board game, would flip the board in anger.